NEWSLETTER Easter 2020 As we all enter into a completely unknown phase in our lives, I would like to reach out and share my most positive thoughts with all the families and friends of the school. We have been humbled by the many, many messages we have received recently, expressing heartfelt thanks to the school and care for our staff. Your warm and sincere messages have really helped to keep all of us feeling positive and full of resolve to continue supporting your children, no matter how challenging that feels at the moment. Students make a school, indeed they are our school and we are all finding it hard to adjust to not having them here and for most staff, to not being here. Teachers will continue to interact with their students BEN IS EVER PRESENT! as regularly as possible via their Google Classroom- please do encourage your son/daughter to ask questions if they are unsure or need clarification. Congratulations to Ben Pringle, in Year 11, who has achieved I am delighted that I am able to share our Easter newsletter with you, 100% attendance since his first which comprises a huge number of fantastic articles in which our students' successes are celebrated. As ever, our students continue to day as a Year 7 in 2015. excel across such a wide range of disciplines and make me and the staff feel incredibly proud. I was recently forwarded a reading by Mr Bunce, our Lead Teacher of Theology and Philosophy, which I shared with our staff last week. Below is a copy for your consideration and enjoyment. And the people stayed home. And read books, and listened, and rested, and exercised, and made art, and played games, and learned new ways of being, and were still. And listened more deeply. Some meditated, some prayed, some danced. Some Quick-thinking staff ensured the met their shadows. And the people began to think differently. traditional shirt-signing for And the people healed. And, in the absence of people living Year 11s wasn’t missed. in ignorant, dangerous, mindless, Turn to pages 27 and 28. and heartless ways, the earth began to heal. INSIDE THIS ISSUE And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and Performing Arts 2 dreamed new images, and created new ways to live and heal the In the community 3 earth fully, as they had been healed. KITTY O’MEARA Sport 8 Academic news 13 The staff and I look forward to working with you all again in our usual way once the current situation is calmer. Please do stay in contact Careers 20 with us, look after your families and don't hesitate to ask if you think we can offer any further support. Alumni 24 Headteacher’s Values Award 26 Best wishes Shirt signing 27 Jenna Potter, Headteacher 2222222 PERFORMING ARTS NORTHERN STAR IS A GREAT ROLE MODEL TO YOUNG DANCERS A talented dancer, who mentors and inspires younger students, has secured a place at the Northern Ballet School in Manchester. Eva Midgley, a Year 13 student, is passionate about dance and her multiple exam successes and teaching qualifications have led her to inspire hundreds of other students and pursue her childhood dream of being a dancer. Eva is a key member and leader of the school’s Evolution Dance Company and along with fellow Year 13 students, Sophie Wright and Izzy Walton, she teaches the younger students, choreographing a range of dance routines. She is also a huge inspiration to the students at the Janet Seymour School of Theatre Dance where she has trained since she was three years old. Eva’s dance credentials are impressive. She has attained the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance Advanced 2 tap (highest level), will shortly be taking the Royal Academy of Dance Grade 8 ballet (also the highest level) and is working towards the Advanced Modern qualification. Eva has performed in numerous shows and productions, locally in a host of settings, including Tennants and The Georgian Theatre, as well as further afield at venues such as The Sage. Janet Seymour, Principal of the Janet Seymour School of Theatre Dance, said: “I am overjoyed for Eva. Dancing often four times a week, ballet, tap and modern theatre, Eva has shown immense commitment and talent from the day she started dancing with me, aged three! She has been an absolute joy to teach over the years and I am grateful to have been part of this journey. This is her first choice vocational college and one of the best in the country. I wish her every success.” Eva has studied dance at Richmond School since Year 7 and, over the years, she has become a real asset to the Dance department. After achieving a grade 8 at GCSE level, she went on to pursue her studies with the Level 3 CTEC in Performing Arts. Danni Fox, Lead Teacher for Dance, commented: “Eva continues to thrive in both her dance training and theoretical work; both of which are focused around preparing students for further training and work in the industry. Eva has adapted to a diverse range of contemporary dance techniques such as Graham, Humphrey, Cunningham and Release, and has developed a unique sense of style in her own choreography. We are so proud of Eva’s achievements and the way she inspires many younger students in the school. I have no doubt that she will go on to have a successful career in the dance industry.” Eva’s three-year course at the Northern Ballet School will lead to a level-6 Diploma in Dance and she is aiming to pursue a career in musical theatre and the ballet. Eva concluded: ”I have wanted to be a dancer for as long as I can remember and I am really excited to have achieved my place at the prestigious Northern Ballet School. The course offers a broad range of disciplines so is a great springboard to prepare myself for work in musical theatre.” 2 3333333 IN THE COMMUNITY RICHMOND SCHOOL HOSTS NEW PANATHLON XTEND EVENT Students from Mowbray School were delighted to be crowned gold medallists of the inaugural Panathlon Xtend event. Four teams, from The Dales School and Mowbray School, came to Richmond School to take part in this new mini-Paralympics-style competition which is designed for Key Stage 3 children, bridging the gap between the primary and older secondary children’s events. The Key Stage 3 age group has been identified as an important time for children with special needs in sport, allowing them to take part and gain an appreciation of the activities that are offered in the Panathlon programmes. At primary age, children are very keen to be involved in sport, however research shows that their interest and participation decreases as they reach secondary school. The Panathlon Xtend is aimed to invigorate their enthusiasm and passion for the sporting opportunities that are available. Val French, Lead for Panathlon in the North Yorkshire Inclusive Sports Partnership, said: “It has been really rewarding to see how the students have enjoyed this event, they have tried really hard and engaged with each other and also with the Sports Leaders who supported them. Once again, I am indebted to the Year 12 Sports Leaders who were fundamental to the smooth running and success of the day.” The students competed in a wide range of sports, including table tennis, kurling, boccia and dodge ball creating a very positive atmosphere that fostered a great team spirit for each group taking part. The students’ behaviour was wonderful, and they were patient as they moved on and waited for the next event to start. This can be very hard for students with special educational needs but as they were so engaged in the activities they were happy and enjoyed watching other groups. The inclusive sporting activities have been hosted at Richmond School for five years, and are generously sponsored by Panathlon and LNER, without whom the events could not run. Lynsey Carruthers, School Games Organiser and PE Teacher, said: “It is always an honour for us to stage Panathlon events and we never have a shortage of Sports Leaders to volunteer. It is a great experience for them to lead the various activities and to help the students, demonstrating what they need to do and giving support and assurance when required.” Panathlon events instil a sense of pride in the students taking part, giving them an opportunity to travel somewhere new and experience competitive sports in a friendly and welcoming environment. They are equally valuable to the Sports Leaders to develop their leadership and communication skills. They gain confidence in how to guide less-able students which requires additional patience in coping with behavioural and coordination issues they may not have experienced before. 3 4444444 IN THE COMMUNITY STUDENTS GET SMART WITH THEIR DRIVING SKILLS Two students have benefited from advanced training in safer driving thanks to the generous support of the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM). Lee Porter, IAM RoadSmart expert, delivered one-to-one advanced lessons to Hollie Butler and Ashleigh Green, Year 13 students, as part of a wider campaign in college to develop safer driving awareness. Since November, 120 Year 13 students have taken part in road safety initiatives, working with the IAM, the North Yorkshire Traffic Bureau and local racing driver Max Coates. On the back of these projects, the IAM kindly offered six students complimentary advanced driving lessons to further their driving skills. Lasting around 75 minutes, the one-to-one on-road modules were delivered in the students’ own cars.